Cerritos Sheriff's Sergent Rescues Distressed Dogs from Sweltering Car

A Cerritos sheriff's sergeant recently rescued two small dogs locked inside a hot car parked outside of Coco's Restaurant in Cerritos, reminding all pet owners that it is illegal to leave your pet inside a vehicle in the heat.

At about noon on June 28, the Cerritos Sheriff's Station received a report of two small dogs in distress left inside a car parked in the restaurant's lot located at 11510 South St. 

When Sgt. Joseph Fleischmann arrived at the location, he went car to car until he located the two dogs. 

"After he pried his way into the car, the sergeant took the two dogs out and could immediately tell they were distress because they were panting," Capt. Keith Swensson told Patch. "Both dogs were quickly placed inside an air-conditioned sheriff's vehicle and given water."

After visiting each business in the shopping plaza, the sergeant located the dogs' owner, who said he was inside the store for only a short period of time. 

Swensson stressed that "it only takes minutes for a pet to die in extreme temperatures," adding that cracking car windows open is not a good solution. "They are in just as much distress as we are when it's hot."

With area temperatures often rising to triple digits during the summer months, County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) officials are urging pet owners to leave their pets at home with cool water and a place to escape the heat. 

“Dogs, in particular, cannot cool themselves when left inside a vehicle on a hot day. The temperature inside a vehicle on a hot day can be 20-30 degrees hotter than the outside temperature,” Marcia Mayeda, DACC’s Director, stated. “That puts the pet in grave danger.” 

Tips for Pet Owners this Summer

• Make sure your pets have a cool place to escape the heat, with access to cool water
• If you can’t bring your pet with you when you arrive at your destination, leave them at home
• Avoid walking your pet on hot asphalt or cement. It can injure the pads on their paws
• Consider a nice summer cut at the groomers to help your dog stay comfortable
• Birds and bunnies are particularly sensitive to heat, so always keep them in a cool, comfortable place
• It is against the law to leave your pet inside of a vehicle in the heat, which can result in a criminal case being filed against violators.